They are hanging in a covered porch, get indirect light that's pretty bright. They have been watered when their pots feel light (I figure when they are heavy, they are damp enough). **Please, no "I don't know" or similarly useless answers.... Thanks.
Sptfyr
Favorite Answer
I think the one room in the house where a fern will thrive is in the bathroom where shower is used frequently. If you ferns are looking dry and a little sad the turn your shower on hot and give them a steam bath and it will perk them right up. Don't let the hot water hit them, but hang them as close as possible to get full benefit from the steam. My mom gave her ferns a steam treatment at least twice a week. Of course she also bathed her philos in a milk solution and sang to them as well. Anyhow, the steam baths work wonders. In between steam baths you might consider getting a spray bottle to mist your ferns on a daily basis. Ferns living indoors are really needy. If you happen to have a fish tank you can hang it near the tank for the added humidity.
Good Luck
Paul in San Diego
Some ferns need to have a mist of water sprayed on them to keep them moist, regardless of how much you water the bowl. Also, commercial ferns are grown in a very stable environment of a certain light, temperature, and humidity. They are easily disturbed by environmental changes that cause shock to the plant, resulting in browning and leaf drop.
I have never been able to successfully keep ferns for any length of time (more than a coupla-few months) without them going brown and shedding all over. They're too much of a mess when they do. So, I just gave up.
Carole Q
My mom grows the biggest ferns. Hers sits near a southern window which is the coolest room of the house (has porch roof on that side plus she does not have direct heat in that room in the winter). She has to water her ferns twice a week and the other plants are watered once a week. If not kept in a cooler room, may need a misting on the 'branches'.
Anonymous
Sounds like you need to increase the humidity, and check the pots more often.